Section 7 of Right To Information Act:

Section 7(1)

Subject to the proviso to sub-section (2) of section 5 or the proviso to sub-section (3) of section 6, the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, on receipt of a request under section 6 shall, as expeditiously as possible, and in any case within thirty days of the receipt of the request, either provide the information on payment of such fee as may be prescribed or reject the request for any of the reasons specified in sections 8 and 9:

Provided that where the information sought for concerns the life or liberty of a person, the same shall be provided within forty-eight hours of the receipt of the request.

Section 7(2)

If the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, fails to give decision on the request for information within the period specified under sub-section (1), the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, shall be deemed to have refused the request.

Section 7(3)

Where a decision is taken to provide the information on payment of any further fee representing the cost of providing the information, the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, shall send an intimation to the person making the request, giving—

(a) the details of further fees representing the cost of providing the information as determined by him, together with the calculations made to arrive at the amount in accordance with the fee prescribed under sub-section (1), requesting him to deposit that fees, and the period intervening between the despatch of the said intimation and payment of fees shall be excluded for the purpose of calculating the period of thirty days referred to in that sub-section;

(b) information concerning his or her right with respect to review the decision as to the amount of fees charged or the form of access provided, including the particulars of the appellate authority, time limit, process, and any other forms.

Section 7(4)

Where access to the record or a part thereof is required to be provided under this Act and the person to whom access is to be provided is sensorily disabled, the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, shall provide assistance to enable access to the information, including providing such assistance as may be appropriate for the inspection.

Section 7(5)

Where access to information is to be provided in the printed or in any electronic format, the applicant shall, subject to the provisions of sub-section (6), pay such fee as may be prescribed:

Provided that the fee prescribed under sub-section (1) of section 6 and sub-sections (1) and (5) of section 7 shall be reasonable and no such fee shall be charged from the persons who are of below poverty line as may be determined by the appropriate Government.

Section 7(6)

Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (5), the person making request for the information shall be provided the information free of charge where a public authority fails to comply with the time limits specified in sub-section (1).

Section 7(7)

Before taking any decision under sub-section (1), the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, shall take into consideration the representation made by a third party under section 11.

Section 7(8)

Where a request has been rejected under sub-section (1), the Central Public Information Officer or State Public Information Officer, as the case may be, shall communicate to the person making the request,—

(i) the reasons for such rejection;

(ii) the period within which an appeal against such rejection may be preferred; and

(iii) the particulars of the appellate authority.

Section 7(9)

An information shall ordinarily be provided in the form in which it is sought unless it would disproportionately divert the resources of the public authority or would be detrimental to the safety or preservation of the record in question.

Explained:

Section 7 of the Right to Information Act, 2005 explains how public authorities must respond to applications seeking information. It establishes timelines for providing information, procedures for rejecting requests, and safeguards to ensure accountability in public administration.

Time Limit for Providing Information

Under Section 7(1), the Central Public Information Officer (CPIO) or State Public Information Officer (SPIO) must either provide the requested information or reject the application for a legally valid reason within 30 days of receiving the application. If the application concerns the life or liberty of a person, the information must be provided within 48 hours.

Where an application is submitted through an Assistant Public Information Officer, an additional five days are allowed under the Act.

Additional Provisions Under Section 7

Section 7 also addresses application fees, further payment requirements, and the communication of decisions. If additional fees are required, the applicant must be informed of the amount and the calculation used. The period between sending this notice and receiving payment is excluded when calculating the response time.

Under Section 7(6), information must be supplied free of charge if the public authority fails to comply with the prescribed time limits. Section 7(8) requires a rejection notice to explain the reasons, the appeal period, and the details of the appellate authority.

Important Judgments

1. Central Board of Secondary Education v. Aditya Bandopadhyay (2011)

The Supreme Court held that evaluated answer sheets fall within the scope of information accessible under the RTI Act, subject to applicable legal restrictions. The judgment highlights the importance of transparency and the statutory duty to disclose accessible records.

2. Ajay Kumar v. Delhi Police (2022)

The Delhi High Court considered the 48-hour requirement for information concerning life or personal liberty. The decision emphasised that this exception applies to genuine cases involving an imminent threat to life or liberty, rather than every urgent request.

Conclusion

Section 7 is central to the effective implementation of the RTI Act, 2005. By prescribing response deadlines, requiring reasoned rejection notices, and providing free information for delays, it helps citizens hold public authorities accountable and promotes transparent governance.